Northampton and Racing draw at Franklins Gardens

Northampton Saints and Racing Metro could not be separated at Franklins Gardens on Friday evening as they played to a 9 all draw.

Northampton stepped up their performance compared to last week as they were beaten 33-3 in Paris last week in the reverse fixture.

Northampton fly-half Stephen Myler and Racing’s World Cup-winning star Dan Carter kicked three penalties apiece in a decidedly more even contest than the fixture a week ago.

England coach Eddie Jones was in attendance but there was little to really catch his eye as Racing cemented their place at the top of the group thanks to the kicking of Carter, whose right leg was heavily strapped.

Two penalties from the New Zealander gave Racing a 6-3 interval lead and as the final quarter loomed the score only read 9-6 to the Top 14 club, allowing Myler’s third penalty to level the scores.

The French side still have a game in hand on Northampton, while pool rivals Scarlets and Glasgow meet in Wales on Saturday.

Among the other games this weekend reigning champions Toulon travel to Leinster on Saturday with the Irish province, three-time former winners like their opponents, already as good as eliminated after three straight defeats in Pool 5.

Racing Metro remain on top of the standings in Pool 3 on 12 points while Northampton are just two points behind on 10 points.

However Racing have a significant lead in the points difference after last week’s result and they have also played one less match than Northampton.

Northampton Saint Teimana Harrison was named European Rugby Champions Cup man of the match.

Final Score Northampton Saints 9 (3) Racing Metro 9 (6)

Scorers

Northampton Saints
Tries –
Pen – Myler 3
Con –
Drop –

Racing Metro
Tries –
Pen – Carter 3
Con –
Drop –

Match Officials
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales),
Assistant ref: Gwyn Morris (Wales),
Assistant ref: Wayne Davies (Wales),
TMO: Derek Bevan (Wales),
Citing Commissioner: Douglas Hunter (Scotland)

Teams

Northampton Saints: Ben Foden; Ah See Tuala, George Pisi, Luther Burrell, George North; Steve Myler, Lee Dickson (c); Alex Waller, Mikey Haywood, Kieran Brookes, Courtney Lawes, Victor Matfield, Jamie Gibson, Teimana Harrison, Sam Dickinson

Replacements: Matti Williams, Ethan Waller, Paul Hill, Christian Day, Michael Paterson, Kahn Fotuali’i, JJ Hanrahan, Jamie Elliott

Racing 92: Brice Dulin; Joe Rokocoko, Casey Laulala, Henry Chavancy, Juan Imhoff; Dan Carter, Mike Phillips; Eddy Ben Arous, Dimitri Szarzewski (c), Ben Tameifuna, Luke Charteris, Francois van der Merwe, Wenceslas Lauret, Yannick Nyanga, Chris Masoe

Replacements: Camille Chat, Julien Brugnaut, Cedate Gomes Sa, Manuel Carizza, Antonie Claassen, Maxime Machenaud, Johannes Goosen, Marc Andreu